Joslin Smith Trial: Defence Lawyer Pokes Holes in Lombaard’s Testimony During Cross-Examination

• Defence lawyer Fanie Harmse has poked holes in Lourentia Lombaard's testimony during cross-examination
• Harmse, the lawyer for Jacquin Appollis, brought up a discrepancy in the date Lombaard originally stated in her testimony
• The cross-examination continues on 19 March as the defence aims to paint Lombaard as an unreliable witness

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent ten years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism

WESTERN CAPE – The cross-examination of Lourentia Lombaard (Renz) continues in the Joslin Smith trial at the Saldanha Bay Multipurpose Centre, with defence lawyer Fanie Harmse attempting to paint her as an unreliable witness.

Lombaard is the State’s star witness in the trial of the disappearance of Joslin Smith, the little girl who went missing from her Middlepos home on 19 February 2024.

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Her mother, Kelly Smith, Jacquin Boeta Appollis (Kelly’s boyfriend) and their friend Steveno Van Rhyn, are all appearing in court about her disappearance. Lombaard, who was a former-accused-turned-state-witness, testified that Kelly confessed to selling Joslin to a sangoma for R20,000.

Defence lawyer questions Lombaard’s testimony

Lombaard recalled visiting Kelly’s home on Sunday, 18 February 2024 during her original testimony. It was on this day that Kelly allegedly confessed to selling her little girl to the sangoma.

Lombaard testified that on the morning of the 18th when she first went to the home of Kelly and Boeta, she saw a white detective bakkie and a man talking to Boeta. The detective was reportedly questioning Appollis about chicken theft in the area. Lombaard also noted that Kelly was visibly upset with Appollis and picked up a rock which she used to smash a window inside the home, cutting herself in the process.

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She then allegedly exited the home with a knife which she threatened to stab Appollis with. Harmse, the defence lawyer for Appollis, questioned Lombaard’s testimony, picking holes in her evidence. Producing a statement from the detective who spoke to Appollis, he noted that the officer was at the home on Saturday, 17 February 2024, and not the 18th as Lombaard testified. He also stated that his client had no knowledge of Kelly smashing a window at the home.

Harmse questions Lombaard about the knife

Appollis' lawyer then brought up issues with Lombaard's details about Kelly breaking the window and threatening to stab his client.

She admitted that she didn't see Kelly break the window, but heard glass shatter inside the house after Kelly took the rock. She also admitted that she didn't see where Kelly took the knife from, but assumed it was from a stand that had the knives and spoons.

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What you need to know about the Joslin Smith trial

• Kelly admitted to smoking drugs on the day Joslin Smith disappeared from Middelpos.
• Witness claims that Kelly Smith told him that people wanted to buy her children, she asked for R20,000.
• Shakeera Ganief testified that Kelly was enjoying the attention she received in the weeks after Joslin disappeared.
• Joslin's Grade 1 teacher said Kelly told her Joslin was on a boat on her way to West Africa.
• Lourentia Lombaard testifies that the sangoma wanted Joslin for her eyes and skin.
• Mickeyla Davids claims Kelly told her where Joslin was days after her disappearance.

Lombaard testifies that Kelly sold Joslin

Briefly News also reported how former accused turned state witness Lombaard stated that Kelly sold Joslin for R20,000.

The woman known as Renz said she witnessed Kelly interacting with a sangoma and receiving money from the person.

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Joslin Smith: Lourentia Lombaard said Kelly was allegedly paid to keep quiet about selling Joslin

She also added that Kelly confessed that she had sold her child because she was struggling and needed the money.

Source: Briefly News